HIGHER EDUCATION VETERANS PROGRAM POST-9/11 GI BILL (CHAPTER 33) CONSIDERATIONS Note: The following information is subject to change. For up-to-date information on the GI Bill or to contact a (MDVA) Higher E ducation Veterans Program Regional Coordinator in your region, call 1.888.546.5838. The Post-9/11 GI Bill is an excellent resource to finance higher education goals. However, it may not necessarily be the best choice for everyone. Participants in the Post-9/11 GI Bill must make an irreversible decision to select this program over other possible VA educational benefits. Therefore, it is important to fully understand all aspects of the program to ensure the best available option is used. The following information provides an overview of some of the items to consider when deciding which VA benefit is the right choice for you. The Post-9/11 GI Bill consists of three main components: a payment for tuition and fees that is made directly to the institution, a housing stipend paid to the student, and a book & supply stipend also paid to the student. Tuition and Fees Payment: Payment is based on total active duty service after September 10, 2001, not every eligible veteran will receive the full amount. This includes Active Service performed by National Guard members under title 32 U.S.C. for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the National Guard; or under section 502(f) for the purpose of responding to a national emergency. See chart on reverse for percentages. Pays all public school in-state tuition and fees at the eligible level; Private and foreign school costs are capped at $19,198.31 annually. The Yellow Ribbon Program may be available for tuition and fees above the cap for private colleges. College Fund (Kicker) does transfer and will be paid on a monthly basis. $600 Buy Up does not transfer and no refund is authorized. It may be possible to transfer a partial or full amount of your benefit to dependents; however you must meet the eligibility requirements set by Department of Defense. Housing Stipend: Payment is based on total active duty service after September 10, 2001, not every eligible veteran will receive the full amount. See chart on reverse for percentages. Housing allowance is prorated by the student s rate of pursuit (rounded to the nearest tenth). For example, a student training at a rate of pursuit of 75% would receive 80% of the eligible BAH rate. You must have a course load considered to be greater than ½-time to qualify for the housing stipend. Students with a credit load of ½-time or less are not eligible for the housing stipend. Of your courses, at least one must be an on-campus course to receive the local BAH rate. 100% online learners are eligible for a housing rate that is equal to ½ the national average BAH for an E-5 with dependents. The full-time rate for an individual eligible at the 100% eligibility tier would be $714.50 for 2013. If eligible for both Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Chapter 31) benefits and Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) benefits you may choose the Post-9/11 GI Bill s monthly housing allowance instead of the Chapter 31 subsistence allowance. Other Considerations: You may combine the Post-9/11 GI Bill with other military benefits that you are entitled to, however the tuition and fee payments may not exceed 100% of your bill. For example, if Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) has already paid your bill for a term, VA will cover only the remaining balance, not the full bill. Only active duty time served after September 10, 2001 counts as eligible service, not all active duty time. Break or interval pay is no longer payable under any VA education benefit program unless under an Executive Order of the President or due to an emergency, such as a natural disaster or strike. Higher Education Veterans Programs MyMilitaryEducation.org
Chapter 33 (Post 9/11) Chapter 30 (Active Duty) Chapter 1607 (REAP) Chapter 1606 (Reserve) Tuition/Fees Actual tuition and fees are paid directly to the school based on percentage of eligibility and rate of pursuit. Private schools have a current annual cap of $19,198 per year A standard rate is paid directly to recipient regardless of actual tuition costs A standard rate is paid directly to recipient regardless of actual tuition costs A standard rate is paid directly to recipient regardless of actual tuition costs Book Stipend Yearly up to $1,000 Not Available Not Available Not Available Housing (BAH) Paid at the E-5 with dependents BAH rate; Not available for active duty recipients, those training at ½-time or less; For 100%-online learners, BAH is based on ½ National Average Not Available Not Available Not Available College Fund (Kicker) Added to monthly housing stipend Added to monthly rate Added to monthly rate Added to monthly rate $600 Buy Up Not Available Paid at applicable rate Paid at applicable rate Not Available Time Limit 15 years from date of separation 10 years from date of separation Depending on situation, benefit may end once you leave service. In some cases, 10 years from the date of separation. Eligibility normally ends once you leave the service Service Requirement Must have served at least 90 days on active duty after September 10, 2001 or 30 continuous days on active duty after September 10, 2001 if discharged due to a service-connected disability. Must have served at least 24 months continuous active duty and paid the enrollment fees. Must have served at least 36 months of continuous service for full benefit. Must have served at least 90 consecutive days on active duty Must have completed basic training and training school and have a 6 year enlistment Post-9/11 Service Percentage of Maximum Amount Payable At least 36 cumulative months (includes BASIC): 100% At least 30 cumulative months (includes BASIC): 90% At least 24 cumulative months (includes BASIC): 80% At least 18 cumulative months (excludes BASIC): 70% At least 12 cumulative months (excludes BASIC): 60% At least 6 cumulative months (excludes BASIC): 50% At least 90 aggregate days (excludes BASIC): 40% At least 30 continuous days on active duty and discharged due to service-connected disability: 100% Higher Education Veterans Programs MyMilitaryEducation.org
COMPARISON WORKSHEET: Please complete the following worksheet to compare what you may expect to receive from your current educational benefits in comparison to the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Please click on the hyperlinks to determine your payment rate or percentage you will receive from the Post 9/11 GI Bill. For further information please contact the Higher Education Veterans Program Regional Coordinator at a campus near you. Current GI Bill Current GI Bill (Ch1606, 1607, 30) payment rate $ GI Bill Kicker $ GI Bill Buy-Up Option (only available with Ch 1607 & 30) $ Total $ Post 9/11GI Bill The percentages of each of the following are based on active duty time after 9/10/2001 and are the same for each category. For example, if you have served a total of 20 months on active duty since 9/10/2001 and are attending a public institution, the VA will pay 70% of your tuition and fees, 70% of the housing stipend rate, and 70% of the book stipend. Percentage of tuition and fees (cumulative count of Active Duty time post 9/11) % $ Percentage of Base Housing Allowance (based on the zip code of the school you attend) % $ Other Potential Education Benefits Percentage of Books and Supply Stipend % $ If you are eligible for any of the following benefits, enter the anticipated award amount per term. Federal Tuition Assistance $ State Tuition Reimbursement $ Minnesota GI Bill $ Total $ Application to your College/University Tuition and Fees Actual Costs Total Benefits Under Current GI Bill/Term Total Benefits Under Post-9/11GI Bill/Term Out of Pocket Balance Housing Expenses Books and Supplies Total Higher Education Veterans Programs MyMilitaryEducation.org
Higher Education Veterans Program Brad Lindsay, Senior Program Director brad.lindsay@state.mn.us Office: 651-757-1582 Dave Bellefeuille, Program Supervisor david.bellefeuille@state.mn.us Office: 651-757-1564 Erica Holmes, Program Administrative Assistant erica.holmes@state.mn.us Office: 651-201-8227 Northwest Region: Tony Schnellbach, Coordinator tony.schnellbach@northlandcollege.edu tony.schnellbach@state.mn.us Office: 218-683-8550 Northland Community & Technical College 1101 Hwy One East Thief River Falls, MN 56701 Eric Abell, Coordinator eric.abell@minnesota.edu eric.abell@state.mn.us Office: 218-299-6881 Minnesota State Community & Technical College 900 Minnesota 34 Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 Northwest Region Cont.: Joe Butler, Coordinator butlejos@mnstate.edu joseph.a.butler@state.mn.us Office: 218-477-2080 Minnesota State University, Moorhead 1104 7 th Ave South Box 27 Moorhead, MN 56563 Northeast Region: David Martin, Coordinator david.martin@lsc.edu david.martin@state.mn.us Office: 218-733-7604 Lake Superior College 2101 Trinity Road Duluth, MN 55811 Aaron Jensen, Coordinator aaronjensen@hibbing.edu aaron.jensen@state.mn.us Office: 218-262-6739 Hibbing Community College 1515 East 25 th Street Hibbing, MN 55746 Central Region: Laura Boden, Coordinator mnva@stcloudstate.edu laura.boden@state.mn.us Office: 320-308-2185 St. Cloud State University Administrative Services 100-B 720 4 th Ave South St. Cloud, MN 56301 Higher Education Veterans Programs MyMilitaryEducation.org
Central Region Cont.: Josh Brummond, Coordinator mnva@alextech.edu joshua.brummond@state.mn.us Office: 320-762-4467 Alexandria Tech & Community College 1601 Jefferson Street Alexandria, MN 56308 Metro Region: Katherine Bachman, Coordinator katherine.bachman@dctc.edu katherine.bachman@state.mn.us Office: 651-423-8274 Dakota County Technical College Student Life Area 1300 145 th Street East Rosemount, MN 55068 Duane Bauer II, Coordinator duane.bauer@state.mn.us Direct: 612-238-4568 St Mary s University LaSalle Hall 2500 Park Ave S Minneapolis, MN 55404 Southwest Region Justin Guggisberg, Coordinator justin.guggisberg@smsu.edu justin.guggisberg@state.mn.us Office: 507-537-7213 Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall 1501 State Street Room SS132 Marshall, MN 56258 Southeast Region: David Schrader, Coordinator david.schrader@mnsu.edu david.schrader@state.mn.us Office: 507-389-5726 Minnesota State University, Mankato 168 Centennial Student Union Mankato, MN 56001 Tony Tengwall, Coordinator tony.tengwall@roch.edu tony.tengwall@state.mn.us Office: 507-529-6142 Rochester Community & Technical College 851 30 th Ave. S.E. Box 47 Rochester, MN 55904 Charles Egerstrom, Coordinator charles.egerstrom@anokaramsey.edu charles.egerstrom@state.mn.us Office: 763-433-1113 Anoka Ramsey Community College 11200 Mississippi Blvd NW Coon Rapids, MN 55433 Higher Education Veterans Programs MyMilitaryEducation.org